Adjustable lighting fixture hanger with wiring protection means



May 19, 1970 w. L. LlPscoMB ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER WITH WIRING PROTECTION MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1966 |"IIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

WIL L I S L.. I I PSCOMB May 19, 1970 w. L. LlPscoMB 3,512,743

ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER WITH WIRING PROTECTION MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1966 2 sheets-sheet ,2

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v4 w|LLas LIPSCOMB Byjamwm U.S. Cl. 248-324 United States Patent O 3,512,743 ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGER WITH WIRING PROTECTION MEANS Willis L. Lipscomb, 2208 WilloWSt., San Diego, Calif. 92106 Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 598,143 Int. Cl. F21v 21/16, 21/22, 2]/32 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A lighting fixture hanger including a hollow flexible, longitudinally extensible tubular member, the upper end of said tubular member attached to a ceiling fixture, the lower end of said tubular member attached to a lighting fixture and a support cable connected to said ceiling fixture and said light fixture extending through said hollow tubular member.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and specifically to an adjustable lighting fixture hanger with wiring protection means.

Some types of lighting fixtures suspended from overhead structures are supported by stem-like hangers which have swivel or ball joints at the upper ends to permit swinging of the fixtures, as during installation and servicing, or as a result of an earthquake. Other types utilize flexible chains for suspension, which allows vertical adjustment in increments of length of each chain link. In these and other non-rigid types the wiring to the lighting fixture is usually unprotected, or is attached to or contained in the hangers in such a manner that motion of the fixture beyond a very limited amount can cause damage to or even breakage of the wires.

The hanger described herein fully encloses the wiring and is designed to move throughout a considerable range of displacement without any danger of damage to the wiring. In addition the hanger is adjustable in length to any desired position and is flexible throughout its length to withstand considerable displacement and deformation without permanent distortion of the hanger or fixture.

The hanger and its use are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a typical lighting fixture suspended by two hangers;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line S-S of FIG. 2;

FIG. 46 is a sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 2, showing the electrical wiring coiled within the hanger stern;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8l is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing an alternative stem structure; and

FIG. 9 is a similar sectional view showing a further alternative stem structure.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The basic hanger V10` comprises an upper end fitting 12 and a lower end fitting 14, interconnected by a longitudinally extensible tubular sleeve 16. Upper end fitting 12 is a truncated spheroidal ball element and is universally pivotally held in a correspondingly spherical ring or socket member 18 secured to supports 20, which latter are suspended from a mounting plate 22. Various configurations of supports and mountings may be used to suspend the socket member 18 below a ceiling or other overhead sup- 3,512,743 Patented May 19, 1970 ICC port, the exact structure not being critical to the present hanger.

The upper end fitting 12 has a large axial bore 24 in the upper end thereof, tapering to a smaller bore 26 in the lower end. Extending across the top of bore 24 is a diametrical cross bar 28, in the center of which is an axial opening 30. Fixed securely in bore 26 is a cylindrical collar32 having an inwardly turned upper flange 34, with a cross bar 36 extending diametrically across the flanged end, said cross bar having an axial opening 38. The lower end of collar 32 projects below fitting 12 and provides a stop flange 40, which limits the swing of the hanger by striking the lower edge of socket member 18.

Lower end fitting 14 comprises a tubular collar 42 with an outwardly extending radial flange 44 near the lower end and an externally screw threaded portion 46 below the flange. Diametrically across the upper end of collar -42 is a cross bar 48 with an axial opening 50. Threaded portion 46 passes through a suitable opening 52 in the upper frame portion of a light fixture 454 and is held by a nut 56. Two or more hangers would be used for a large fixture, as in FIG. 1.

Sleeve 16, in its basic form illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, comprises an upper portion 58` fitting slidably into a lower portion 60. The upper end of upper portion 58 is secured inside collar 32, by adhesive or other suitable means, while the lower end of lower portion 60 fits tightly over the outside of collar 42. Both portions of the sleeve are of flexible and somewhat resilient material, such as plastic, to permit bending.

The weight of the light fixture 54 is supported by a cable 62, preferably of stranded wire, which passes through openings 30, 38 and S0 in the respective cross bars 28, 36 and 48. On the lower end of cable 62- is an enlarged stop 64, such as a swaged sleeve pressed on the cable and on which the cross bar 48 rests. The upper end of cable 62 is held by a tapered slit clamp plug 66 which fits tightly into opening 28 and binds the cable securely. Clamp plug 66 is provided with a flange 68 to facilitate prying the plug loose to free the cable. For safety a further swaged stop 70 is secured to the upper end of cable 62 to limit the drop of the light fixture should the clamp plug fail or ybecome loose for any reason. By sliding the cable 62 the height of the light fixture can be adjusted very accurately, then set by jamming the clamp plug 66 into opening 30. Sleeve 16 is thus merely a covering and does not support any load, but adjusts telescopically to the required length as the cable 62 is set.

The electrical wiring, indicated at 72, is brought in through upper end fitting 12 and passes on either side of cross bar 28 then on the same side of cross bar 36, the wiring continuing through sleeve 16 and through the lower fitting 14 at one side of cross bar 4-8. The wiring is thus separated and protected from cable 62 in the areas of the end fittings where rubbing or binding might occur during motion of the hanger. In the main length of sleeve 16 there is ample room for the wiring to avoid or slip clear of the cable. In the lower end of lower fitting 14 the Wiring passes through a tight fitting sealing plug 74, which acts as a draft stop for the hanger and specifically prevents the spread of fire through the sleeve `if such an event should occur in the light fixture.

In an alternative arrangement, illustrated in FIG. 6, the electrical wiring 72 is coiled around cable. 62, as indicated at 76. This is particularly useful if the wiring connections must be completed before the fixture is adjusted to its final position, since the coiled portion 76 will allow the wiring to adjust without binding or pulling to the variable length of the hanger.

A slightly modified form of the hanger, shown in FIG. 8, utilizes the same end fittings 12 and 14 but has a sleeve 7-8 of corrugated tubing, that is, substantially bellows like, instead of the two part telescopic sleeve. Sleeve 78 has a plain upper end 80 which fits into bore 26 and a plain lower end 82 which fits over collar 42, so the method of attachment is unchanged.

A further configuration, shown in FIG. 9, includes a generally recti-cylindrical, unitary tubular sleeve 84 which is secured to end fittings 12 and 14 in the same manner as the other sleeves described. However, the main body of sleeve 84 is of elastic material, such as thin wall rubber tubing, which will stretch under load. This type of sleeve is suitable for use where a small range of adjustment is required and the weight of the light fixture will be sufficient to stretch the sleeve until the load is supported by cable 62.

For added convenience adjusting means may be applied to the lower end of cable 62. The lower end of the sleeve 16 can be raised from the collar 42 and adjustment of the effective length of the cable 62 altered to raise or to lower the fixture without disturbing the bracket 20 or upper end fitting 12. One suitable arrangement to accomplish this is shown in FIG. 9, wherein the cable 6-2 is looped around cross bar 48, or brought back through a second hole in the cross bar, and has a locking tag 86 clamped to the cable end. The locking tag 86 has a bar portion 88 with a pair of longitudinally spaced holes 90. Cable 62 is threaded through one hole 90` to the opposite side of bar portion `88, then back through the other hole to continue its path, leaving a locking loop 92 between the two holes. Under tension the cable is pulled tight and is frictionally locked in the locking tag, the principle being Well known. By loosening loop 92 the locking tag can be slid along the cable for adjustment, then locked at the required position by pulling the cable tight.

The electrical wiring may extend alongside or be coiled around cable 62 in any form of the sleeve. In any configuration the weight of the light fixture is carried by the high strength cables, which are adjustable to any required length accurately and easily locked in place. The extensible sleeve fully encloses and protects the electrical wiring and the support cable. In the fittings at both ends of the hanger the cross bar structure separates the electrical wiring from the support cable and prevents damage to the wiring. Side loads on the light fixture in any direction Will cause the hangers to swivel in the ball and socket connections of the upper end fittings, while the sleeves, in any of the disclosed forms, will bend to accommodate the offset, as in the broken line position in FIG. 1. This bending of the sleeves prevents any undue offset loads on the lower end fittings and avoids damage or distortion of the light fixture frame structure.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture hanger, comprising:

a hollow, tubular, lon-gitudinally extensible sleeve of resiliently fiexible material;

an upper end fitting secured to the upper end of said sleeve;

a lower end fitting secured to the lower end of said sleeve and having means for attachment to a light fixture;

a supporting cable linking said upper and lower end 4 fittings and extending through said sleeve and supporting the entire load carried by said lower fitting; retaining means in said upper and lower end fittings to hold said cable substantially axially therein and defining open bore portions through which electrical wiring can pass separated fr0-m the cable; clamp means on said cable making said cable adjustable as to the effective length thereof between said upper and lower end fittings:

and socket means in which said upper end fitting is pivotally held, said socket means having means for suspension from an overhead support.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve has bellows-like corrugations to permit elongation and collapse.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is a generally recti-cylindrical, unitary, longitudinally elastic tube.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said upper end fitting has a larger axial bore in the upper portion thereof and a smaller axial bore in the lower portion thereof, said retaining means comprising a cross bar substantially diametrical across said larger bore and having an opening through which said cable passes and whereto said cable is adjustably connected, a collar in said smaller bore, said collar having a stop flange portion extending down over the upper end of said sleeve and being enygageable with an adjacent portion of said upper end fitting to limit the pivotal or swinging motion of the hanger.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said upper end fitting is substantially spheroidal and is universally pivotal in said socket means;

said upper end fitting having an axial bore and a collar fixed in the lower end of said bore, said collar having a stop flange extending below the upper end fitting to engage said socket means and limit the pivotal motion of the hanger;

said sleeve being secured in said collar;

cross bars in said upper end fitting and said socket through which said cable passes, with open bore portions at the sides of the cross bars for passage of electrical wiring separated from the cable;

said lower end fitting having a tubular portion to which s-aid sleeve is secured, with a cross bar in said tubular portion to which said cable is attached, leaving open portions at the sides of said cross bar for passage of electrical wiring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,716,017 6/1929 White 248-317 2,115,898 5/1938 Zagora 248-326 2,762,598 9/1956 Runge 248-327 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,194 1875 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

